This introduction to the 'Great Books of the Western World' is a fantastic starting point for setting out to conquer the suggested canon. While some of it (okay, a lot of it) is very dated, much of the educational philosophy espoused is still quite solid, especially in laying out the reasoning behind arguments in favour of a liberal education. There are also suggestions on how to tackle the set, including a 10 year reading plan for those of you that like to set long-term goals. ( )

This is a review of "The Great Conversation" which is either a short book or a lengthy essay written by Robert Maynard Hutchins. It is written as an introduction to The Great Books of the Western World but has great value as a discussion of education in the 20th century.
The author is above all an educator. He began as the Dean of the Law School at Yale and was then appointed President of the University of Chicago.
One of his principal themes is the importance of a liberal education. Hutchins defines a liberal education as the study of the authors included in the Great Books. This type of education was historically available only to wealthy men primarily in the 18th and 19th century. Hutchins makes a specific point that this type of education disappeared in the 20th century. The importance of this education is that it familiarizes the student with the great writers of the western tradition and teaches the student to think. The "Great Conversation" is the statements of these authors on the questions basic to human life. They are set out in the Great Books as the "Great Ideas" that form the structure of the two volumes of the Syntopicon. Hutchins does not negate Eastern ideas he simply states that as a product of western civilization it is necessary to learn the Western ideas first. The primary importance of this type of education is to produce educated citizens that can participate meaningfully in the processes of democracy. This education is also necessary to the individual so that they can obtain the best possible quality of life.
Adult education centered around the authors in the Great Books is Hutchins plan for an individual to obtain a liberal education in present day. He believes that this type of education is available to all who seek it and do the work necessary. He is truly a small d democrat and not an ivory tower elitist. He is clearly an elitist about the quality of the authors of the Great Books. He does not require diversity for the sake of political correctness but merit for the sake of quality. Never during his career was Hutchins accused of any type of discrimination except in the name of what he perceived as merit.
I have read the Great Conversation several times and I intend to read it again. I have not embarked on a program of reading the Great Books. I may endeavor to bend my efforts in that direction in the future. I do endorse the idea that a good education, obtained as an adult, does enrich a person's life. I have read some of the Great Books and I do try to read good books. I do believe that the lack of education amongst our citizens does affect the quality of our democracy. ( )